Nigerian heavyweight Efe Ajagba has stirred anticipation in boxing circles with his confident prediction that he would defeat Anthony Joshua emphatically, saying “I’ll beat him worse than Dubois” and asserting Joshua “won’t last long”. Ajagba’s bravado comes as Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn indicates the former two-time world champion is eyeing a comeback fight potentially against Ajagba, alongside other contenders like Tony Yoka and Martin Bakole.
Ajagba’s remarks highlight a rivalry tinged with national pride, with the Nigerian boxer previously questioning Joshua’s Nigerian credentials. “He’s not a real Nigerian. He might have just been there and that’s where his parents came from, but for me, I’m the original Nigerian, to be honest,” Ajagba said, contrasting himself with Joshua whose parents have Nigerian roots but who was born in Watford, UK.
The potential Joshua-Ajagba clash would carry significant Nigerian interest, especially if staged in Africa – a hosting option being explored by Joshua’s team alongside possibilities in Ghana. Hearn stressed Joshua’s return will be strategic, ruling out immediate top-tier opponents like Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk. “It’s going to be a proper fight, but it is not going to be against the top five. It might not even be against someone in the top seven or eight,” Hearn explained, indicating plans for Joshua’s next three fights are being mapped out.
Ajagba, ranked No.10 by Ring Magazine, recently pulled out of an IBF final eliminator with Frank Sanchez, freeing him to face Joshua should the opportunity arise. Joshua, 35, dropped out of Ring Magazine’s top 10 heavyweights this month due to inactivity following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September. He’s targeting a return early 2026, likely January or February – a timeframe fitting for Ajagba or Bakole, who drew with Ajagba in May.
Interestingly, Joshua had shown support for Ajagba ahead of his bout with Bakole, saying “Efe is a good boxer, and obviously, I’m going to support Efe, even though he doesn’t support me”. With Ajagba hungry for a big clash and Joshua aiming to reclaim heavyweight prominence, a meeting between the two would make for compelling boxing theatre.
